Financial Aid Management

CSS Profile

Better data means better financial aid decisions. Get started with CSS Profile so your institution can strategically manage the financial aid process.

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Why Institutions Use CSS Profile

Institutional resources are precious. They need to go to the right students. That's why hundreds of colleges, universities, professional schools, and scholarship programs use CSS Profile to award their aid funds equitably.

Support Student Equity

  • CSS Profile annually unlocks access to over 10 billion dollars in institutional aid.
  • It also supports a variety of student and family types, from domestic to international, undergraduate to graduate, and more.
Support Students with CSS Profile
Five students sitting together at table and looking at one another.

Our Pilot Program

In partnership with participating institutions, CSS Profile launched a pilot program evaluating a streamlined application option that significantly reduces the number of questions students answer within the existing CSS Profile application. Learn more about the year one pilot and what's next.

Shorter Application Experience

For the 2023-24 aid award year, CSS Profile piloted a lighter application pathway within the existing CSS Profile. This pathway reduces the overall question set by approximately half.

High Data Fidelity

Data analysis demonstrated high levels of accuracy for median parental contribution when comparing the full CSS Profile to the lighter application option.

Positive Pilot Feedback

"The pilot program reduces a perceived barrier, and we have had very positive feedback from families." - Participating Year One Institution

Expanded Year Two Pilot

For the 2024-25 aid award year, the pilot program has tripled the number of participating institutions. This allows the pilot to gather more information and opens the lighter application experience to more students.

Learn More About the Pilot

Streamline the Financial Aid Process

The CSS Profile application offers the following benefits:

  • A common application for students so they can report their financial resources to multiple colleges and programs on a single form.  
  • Online application access 24/7, so students meet your institutional deadlines.
  • Flexible options that allow you to adjust the formula to reflect your institutional mission, values, and goals.
  • Application experience tailored to all families, including divorced or separated parents.
  • Information about special circumstances at the time of application, so you can evaluate the need for additional funds before an appeal.
  • CSS Profile fees waived for qualified students based on an automated fee waiver eligibility check.
Request a Consultation
Map of the United States of America.

Designed by and for Financial Aid Professionals

How can you identify students who need your financial aid resources to enroll? CSS Profile gives you accurate, timely, and complete financial information about your applicants on a schedule that works for your institution.

Institutional Methodology

Use the College Board's Institutional Methodology (IM) to award your institutional funds.

Comprehensive Applicant Information

Get comprehensive financial aid applicant information that coordinates with your schedule to make the right decisions at the right time.

Estimate Funding Eligibility

Estimate eligibility for federal and state funding to fully understand a student's need for assistance.

Early Notifications

 Communicate early with applicants about potential aid eligibility.

Seamless Integration with Higher Ed Systems

CSS Profile integrates with many other leading campus systems, including: PowerFAIDS, Banner, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Ellucian Colleague, and more.

Related Resources

Use these resources to learn more about CSS Profile and how to get the most out of its features.

Download

CSS Profile: Supporting Equity with Better Data

A brief overview of CSS Profile and why nearly 350 colleges, universities, and scholarship programs rely on it to help make college a reality for students.

  • PDF
  • 4.37 MB

Download

CSS Profile: Flyer

One page flyer that includes information on CSS Profile and a pilot program to test a streamlined application option within CSS Profile.

  • PDF
  • 3.8 MB

Link

Participating Institutions and Programs

See which institutions use the College Board’s CSS Profile to help manage their financial aid process easily, efficiently, and cost-effectively.

  • Go to CSS Profile

Link

CSS Profile

Our student-facing website offers robust resources on completing the CSS Profile, including information about fee waivers, FAQs, and more.

  • Go to CSS Profile

Link

CSS Profile for Counselors

Read about CSS Profile and how it helps students complete and submit their application for financial aid.

  • Go to Counselors

Contact Us

Need help using CSS Profile? Have questions about using CSS Profile at your institution? Call or email us and someone from our team will contact you.

Prospective Institutions

If your college or school is considering using CSS Profile, complete this form to schedule a consultation with us.

Schedule a Consultation

Current Users

If you're a current CSS Profile user and need additional support, call or email us and a member of our team will assist you.

Get In Touch